U.S. patent number 4,382,787 [Application Number 06/261,562] was granted by the patent office on 1983-05-10 for dental model articulator.
This patent grant is currently assigned to KV33 Corporation. Invention is credited to Ronald E. Huffman.
United States Patent |
4,382,787 |
Huffman |
May 10, 1983 |
Dental model articulator
Abstract
A mounting for casts of a dental model correlates the casts with
the condition to be redintegrated throughout a full range of
occlusal and masticatory registration. The mounting includes
separate duplicate members, each of which members is attachable to
a cast of a dental model and supports a spherical cavity, and an
hinged two part flexible element, each of which parts is a mirror
image of the other and supports a sphere to be positioned within
respective ones of the spherical cavities and adhesively secured
thereto after alignment of the paired casts. Simulation and tracing
the paths of natural occlusal and masticatory registration is
effected by pivotal movement about the hinge line and flexing of
the element.
Inventors: |
Huffman; Ronald E. (Tucson,
AZ) |
Assignee: |
KV33 Corporation (Tucson,
AZ)
|
Family
ID: |
22993871 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/261,562 |
Filed: |
May 7, 1981 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
433/64 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61C
11/084 (20130101); A61C 11/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61C
11/00 (20060101); A61C 11/02 (20060101); A61C
11/08 (20060101); A61C 011/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;433/54,57,64 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
824096 |
June 1906 |
Crate |
3429045 |
February 1969 |
Anderson et al. |
3466750 |
September 1969 |
Timberlake et al. |
|
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Peshock; Robert
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cahill, Sutton & Thomas
Claims
I claim:
1. An articulator for correlating the casts of a dental model, said
articulator comprising in combination:
(a) a pair of mounting means, one of said mounting means being
attachable to each cast;
(b) a pair of resiliently flexible U-shaped mirror image brackets
for operatively engaging said mounting means with one another to
accommodate movement of the casts relative to one another, each
said bracket including a pair of legs extending from a base and
pivot means disposed at the extremity of each leg for pivotally
engaging the corresponding leg of an interconnected bracket;
(c) pivot means for pivotally interconncting the brackets of said
pair of brackets to provide pivotal movement of the casts relative
to one another about a pivotal axis, said pivot means including pin
means disposed at the extremity of one leg and bearing surface
means disposed at the extremity of an interconnected leg for
pivotally engaging said pin means, said pin means including an end
plate for defining a space intermediate said leg and said end plate
to receive said interconnected leg supporting said bearing surface
means and preclude lateral translation of said brackets relative to
one another along the axis of rotation of said pin means, said
bearing surface including a slot terminating in a circular bearing
surface to provide a snap fit for said pin means;
(d) a socket disposed in each of said mounting means and a ball
attached to each of said brackets for engagement with the
respective one of said sockets said socket including a pair of
fingers for retaining said ball for attaching and fixedly retaining
said pair of brackets to said pair of mounting means at any
selectable angle within a range of predetermined angles in any of
the axis of rotation to angularly orient one of the casts with
respect to the other cast at any selectable angle within a range of
angles about three axis of rotation and to locate one of the casts
with respect to the other cast within two planes of
translation.
2. The articulator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said brackets of
each pair of brackets are mirror images of one another.
3. An articulator for correlating the casts of a dental model, said
articulator comprising in combination:
(a) a mounting attachable to each cast;
(b) a pair of resiliently flexible brackets, each said bracket
having a pair of legs;
(c) means for pivotally connecting one end of said pair of legs of
each bracket to one another through pivoting snap fit joints
pivotable about a common axis;
(d) means for interconnecting each said mounting with the other end
of one bracket of said pair of brackets, said interconnecting means
comprising a ball and socket joint wherein one of the ball and
socket of said ball and socket joint is formed in said mounting and
wherein the other of the ball and socket of said ball and socket
joint extends from said bracket;
(e) means for fixing the angular relationship between each said
mounting and the interconnected one of said pair of brackets after
registration of the casts relative to one another by adjusting the
angular relationship between each said mounting and its engaged one
of said pair of brackets and by adjusting the angular relationship
about the pivot axis between the pivotally connected ends of said
pair of brackets; and
(f) means for restraining separation between each said mounting and
its engaged one of said pair of brackets during and after
registration of the casts, said restraining means being independent
of said fixing means.
4. The articulator as set forth in claim 3 wherein said restraining
means comprises a resilient element formed as part of each said
ball and socket joint for urging retention of the ball in its
socket.
5. The articulator as set forth in claim 4 wherein said resilient
element comprises a pair of fingers extending from the socket for
gripping the ball.
6. The articulator as set forth in claim 5 wherein said fixing
means comprises an adhesive disposed intermediate the ball and
socket of each said ball and socket joint.
7. The articulator as set forth in claim 3 wherein said socket of
said ball and socket joint is formed in said mounting and wherein
said ball of said ball and socket joint extends from said
bracket.
8. The articulator as set forth in claim 3 wherein said pair of
brackets are configured as mirror images of one another.
9. The articulator as set forth in claim 3 wherein said connecting
means attendant said brackets is formed as an integral part of said
brackets.
10. The articulator as set forth in claim 3 wherein said
interconnecting means includes two elements, one of said elements
being formed as an integral part of said mounting and the other of
said element being formed as an integral part of the engaged one of
said brackets.
11. The articulator as set forth in claim 10 wherein said
connecting means attendant said brackets is formed as an integral
part of said brackets.
12. The articulator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
articulator consists of four parts comprising said pair of brackets
and two of said mountings.
13. The articulator as set forth in claim 12 wherein said pair of
brackets are configured as mirror images of one another.
14. The articulator as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of the
casts includes a rear surface having a channel formed therein and
wherein said mounting includes a tab for penetrably engaging the
channel to aid in attaching said mounting to the cast.
15. The articulator as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of the
casts includes two planar surfaces intersecting at the rear of the
cast and wherein said mounting includes two planar intersecting
surfaces juxtapositionable with the intersecting surfaces of the
cast to aid in attaching said mounting to the cast.
16. The articulator as set forth in claim 12 wherein each of the
casts includes a rear surface having a channel formed therein and
wherein said mounting includes a tab for penetrably engaging the
channel to aid in attaching said mounting to the cast.
17. The articulator as set forth in claim 12 wherein each of the
casts includes two planar surfaces intersecting at the rear of the
cast and wherein said mounting includes two planar intersecting
surfaces juxtapositionable with the intersecting surfaces of the
cast to aid in attaching said mounting to the cast.
18. A method for mounting casts of a dental model to afford
correlation of the casts throughout a full range of occlusal and
masticatory registration, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) attaching a mounting to each cast;
(b) pivotally connecting along a pivot axis one end of a first
bracket with one end of a second bracket;
(c) interconnecting each mounting with the other end of one of the
brackets through a pivot mechanism providing pivotal freedom
between each mounting and its connected bracket about any axis of a
set of intersecting orthogonal axis;
(d) positioning the casts relative to one another at one end of the
range of occlusal and masticatory registration to be redintegrated
by adjusting the angular relationship about any or all pivot axis
between each mounting and its engaged bracket and by adjusting the
angular relationship about the pivot axis between the pivotally
connected ends of the brackets;
(e) immobilizing the angular relationship between each mounting and
its engaged bracket on completion of said positioning step to
maintain permanently, fixed the angular relationship between each
mounting and its respective bracket.
19. The method as set forth in claim 18 wherein said step of
pivotally connecting includes the step of disengageably snap
fitting the brackets to one another.
20. The method as set forth in claim 18 wherein said step of
pivotally interconnecting includes the step of pivotally
interconnecting the brackets to one another at two discrete
locations disposed along a common pivot axis.
21. The method as set forth in claim 20 wherein said step of
pivotally interconnecting includes the steps of disengageably snap
fitting the brackets to one another at each of the two discrete
locations.
22. The method as set forth in claim 18 wherein each mounting
includes one element of a ball and socket joint and wherein another
element of the ball and socket joint is disposed at the other end
of each bracket and wherein said step of interconnecting comprises
the steps of interconnecting one and the other elements to form a
ball and socket joint between each mounting and its attached
bracket.
23. The method as set forth in claim 19 wherein the element
included in each mounting is a socket and wherein the element
disposed at the other end of each bracket is a ball and wherein
said step of interconnecting comprises the step of inserting each
ball into one of the sockets.
24. The method as set forth in claim 23 wherein said step of
interconnecting includes the step of retaining each ball in its
respective socket to prevent inadvertent disengagement therebetween
prior to exercise of said step of fixing.
25. The method as set forth in claim 24 wherein said step of
pivotally interconnecting includes the step of pivotally
interconnecting the brackets to one another at two discrete
locations disposed along a common pivot axis.
26. The method as set forth in claim 25 wherein said step of
pivotally interconnecting includes the steps of disengageably snap
fitting the brackets to one another at each of the two discrete
locations.
27. The method as set forth in claim 18 including the step of
retaining each mounting interconnected with its connected bracket
during said step of positioning and prior to exercise of said step
of fixing, the structure for carrying out said step of retaining
being distinct from the structure for carrying out said step of
fixing.
28. A method for redintegrating the casts of a dental model
throughout a full range of occlusal and masticatory registration to
develop a dental prosthetic device mounted on the casts, said
method comprising the steps of:
(a) attaching a mounting to each cast;
(b) pivotally connecting along a pivot axis one end of a first
bracket with one end of a second bracket;
(c) interconnecting each mounting with the other end of one of the
brackets through a ball and socket joint;
(d) positioning the casts relative to one another at one end of the
range of occlusal and masticatory registration to be redintegrated
by adjusting the angular relationship between each mounting and its
engaged bracket and adjusting the angular relationship about the
pivot axis between the pivotally connected ends of the
brackets;
(e) immobilizing the ball and socket joint between connected ones
of the mountings and brackets to maintain permanently the fixed
angular relationship established between connected ones of the
mountings and brackets on completion of said step of
positioning;
(f) flexing the brackets to translate and to rotate the casts
relative to one another to determine adjustments necessary to the
model teeth or of prosthetic devices or restorations formed
thereon;
(g) alternatively pivoting the casts about the pivot axis of the
brackets through an angle of 180.degree. or disengaging the
brackets one from the other to permit unrestricted access to the
casts for making the adjustments determined in said flexing
step;
(h) alternatively repivoting the casts into registration with one
another or reengaging the brackets with one another depending upon
whether said pivoting or disengaging step, respectively, was
undertaken; and
(i) repeating said steps of flexing, pivoting and repivoting or
disengaging and reengaging until the model teeth, prosthetic device
or restoration is developed.
29. The method as set forth in claim 28 wherein the brackets are
connected to one another by pivoting snap fits and said steps of
disengaging and reengaging comprise the steps of unsnapping and
snapping, respectively, the snap fits.
30. The method as set forth in claim 28 including the step of
retaining each mounting interconnected with its connected bracket
during said step of positioning and prior to exercise of said step
of fixing, the structure for carrying out said step of retaining
being distinct from the structure for carrying out said step of
fixing.
Description
Correlators or articulators for use with casts of a dental model to
develop prosthetic dentures or denture elements have been used for
a number of years. These articulators range from a very simple
device affording only fixed pivotal movement between a pair of
casts to highly sophisticated and mechanically complex devices
which are capable of simulating the full range of occlusal and
masticatory registration unique to any patient. The relatively
simple devices are generally inadequate to provide sufficiently
accurately registered prosthetic restoration to avoid extensive
visits with a dentist to obtain adjustments thereof while the very
complex devices are time consuming to operate and require extensive
training to use properly. In either situation, the costs incurred
to the patient are substantial. Moreover, none of the prior art
articulators permit disengagement of the casts from registration
with one another without extensive realignment upon reengagement.
Thus, a technician is usually forced to perform his work while the
casts are mounted on the articulator. Such an environment is
difficult to work in with speed and accuracy.
Each of the following listed United States patents are directed to
dental articulators which incorporate lockable ball and socket
elements to afford pivotal movement and extensible members to
afford translational movement: Nos. 175,046, 530,524, 537,812,
565,326, 981,430, 1,736,006, 1,841,728, 2,571,280, 2,600,899,
2,608,762, 2,621,407, 2,765,533, 4,169,314 and 4,196,518.
An articulator which provides structure to effect a simple hinged
movement without provision of mechanical structure for defining
translatory movement or multi-axis pivotal movement is disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 2,430,177. Simulation of the full range of occlusal
and masticatory registration is obtained by resiliently flexing the
articulator. Such resiliency is afforded by the coil spring like
configuration of a wire element defining each leg of two pairs of
legs. For a well trained and experienced technician, the freedom of
movement afforded by this articulator is sufficient to permit the
formation and adjustments of most prosthetic dentures. Accurate use
of the device is predicated upon the formation within each cast of
a dental model elongated sockets for receiving, capturing and
retaining each of the four wire legs. The casts usually vary in
overall physical size, depending upon the size of the patient's
teeth to be simulated and the size and configuration of the base
formed. To employ the articulator described in this patent,
uniformity of spacing between the pairs of sockets in each pair of
casts is of paramount importance. The demands imposed by such
uniform spacing during formation of the casts is time consuming and
requires an experienced technician. No adjustment capability exists
within the articulator itself to accommodate differences in
spacing, as would be expected as the size of pairs of casts vary in
proportion to the physical size of the patient's jaws and the
usually uniquely sized bases therefor.
The present invention is directed to an inexperience throw away
articulator for dental models. The articulator includes a pair of
members, each of which members is adhesively attachable to a cast
of a pair of casts of a dental model. A semi-spherical cavity is
disposed in each member. A two part hinged element or pair of
brackets of flexible resilient material includes a centrally
located snap fit hinge and a sphere disposed at the extremity of
each bracket. One of these spheres is locatable in each of the
semi-spherical cavities in a member. Temporary retention therein
may be effected by means of a pair of prongs of fingers extending
from the opposed sides of each spherical cavity. Upon alignment of
the casts with one another, each sphere is adhesively attached
within its respective socket and the casts become hingedly attached
to one another. Simulation of the full range of natural occlusal
and masticatory registration is effected by a combination of
pivotal movement about the hinge line and flexing of the respective
brackets. The snap fit hinge permits rapid disassembly and
reassembly without the need of realignment to effect proper
registration between the casts; accordingly, a technician can
readily perform his work on the casts or dental restoration in
comfort by placing the cast to be worked upon a work surface or in
a holder.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide apparatus
for operatively simulating the occlusal and masticatory
relationships to be redintegrated.
Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for
mounting and adjustably holding casts of a dental model to simulate
their natural registration to facilitate precise occlusal and
masticatory correlation of a dental restoration.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide
apparatus for resiliently associating operatively interconnecting
spaced dental model casts for relative adjustment thereof
throughout the range of a full spherical orbit.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
manipulatable apparatus to check, trace, fit and polish a dental
restoration upon a dental model against and for occlusal and
masticatory registration.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an
articulator for dental models which is simple and inexpensive to
manufacture and operable throughout a wide range of relative
adjustments.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a
throw-away articulator readily attachable to paired dental model
casts within a wide range of alignment therebetween.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a four
piece dental articulator, two pieces of which are duplicates and
the remaining two pieces of which are mirror images of one
another.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide an
articulator for supporting a pair of casts which articulator can be
disassembled by disengaging snap fit pivots and assembled without
need for realignment of the casts by engaging the snap fit
pivots.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide an
articulator which is rapidly adaptable to support a pair of casts
in registration.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide an
articulator which permits a technician to work on a cast physically
independent of the other cast without affecting registration
therebetween on reassembly of the articulator.
These and other objects of the present invention will become
apparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereof
proceeds.
The present invention may be described with greater specificity and
clarity with reference to the following drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the articulator
supporting a pair of casts of a dental model;
FIG. 2a is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the elements
of the articulator;
FIG. 2b is a partial top view of the articulator;
FIG. 3 illustrates the interconnecting element of the
articulator;
FIG. 4 is a partial top view of the articulator illustrating the
flexibility of the interconnecting element; and
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the articulator and
showing a variant of the dental model mounting means.
In the practice of prosthetic dentistry, one very important
technical problem is the shaping and fitting of the restoration
occlusal surfaces to register, meet and operatively cooperate with
opposed surfaces in conformity with the established habits,
idiosyncrasies and tooth facet inclinations of the user. The many
factors peculiar to the individual have heretofore made proper
operative correlation of the restoration with the associated dental
elements almost invariably a matter susceptible of satisfactory
resolution only through repetitious adjustments and modifications
had in the dental chair after installation of the restoration. This
occurs despite the use of fixed, even though adjustable,
mechanically simulated axes of articulation, planes and arcs of
occlusion, lines, planes and axes of symmetry and the like which
fail to provide the full orbital range necessary for reconstitution
of the natural dental relationships determinable from the traces
and indices upon and established through use of the original
dentures. To facilitate attainment of the desired operative
registration between restorations and their associated dental
elements and thereby largely obviate the necessity for adjustments
and corrections in the dental chair, the present invention provides
a device for laboratory use wherein the relationships to be
redintegrated can be fully and accurately portrayed and operatively
duplicated as a check mounting for the restoration.
The present invention is a device which hingedly, yieldably and
separably associates for registration a pair of casts of a dental
model in spaced opposition and which provides relative manipulation
of the casts throughout a full spherical orbit wherein every phase
and condition of dental occlusive attitude may be exemplified.
In practice, the casts of both the upper and lower natural dentures
along with the conditions thereof requiring restoration or
correction are made by well known techniques. The casts are secured
to the present invention to register in simulation of the natural
relationships they portray when in spaced substantially parallel
relationship at one limit of the range of relative movement, which
position is determinable by the structure of the invention. Through
the novel features, structure and characteristics of the invention
correlating the restoration or correction and the facet disposition
and inclination thereof with the operative range and pattern of
movement of the original dentures becomes possible.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a complete dental model 10
having a pair of mating dental model casts 12 and 14 simulative of
the original dentures and the condition requiring restoration or
correction. An articulator 16 is attached to the casts to maintain
them positionally simulative of the natural relationships portrayed
when substantially in parallel relationship at one limit of the
range of relative movement. A pair of interconnecting elements or
brackets 18 and 20 are pivotally attached to one another and are of
resilient flexible material sufficient to accommodate relative
movement about all axis and within all planes between the casts in
simulation of the operative range and pattern of the original
dentures.
Referring jointly to the remaining figures, further details of
articulator 16 will be described. First and second mounting means
22 and 24 are attached to casts 12 and 14, respectively. Each
mounting means includes a semi-spherical or partially spherical
depression disposed at the respective extremity. In example,
mounting means 22 includes depression 26 and mounting means 24
includes depression 28. Brackets 18 and 20 each include a sphere
(spheres 30, 32) sized to receivingly mate with depressions 26, 28.
Brackets 18 and 20 are pivotally joined to one another by pivot
means 34, 36; preferably, the pivot means is of the snap fit
type.
To mount articulator 16, mounting means 22 and 24 are attached to
the rear faces of the respective casts. Spheres 30 and 32 are
located within their respective depressions 26, 30 upon angular
adjustment of the respective brackets to obtain the requisite
spatial relationship therebetween; nominally, the brackets define
an interior obtuse angle. To maintain the casts in the
predetermined fixed spatial relationship to one another at one
limit of the range of relative movement, an adhesive is applied
intermediate the spheres and their respective depressions to
fixedly secure the respective bracket in fixed angular orientation
with respect to the mounting means. Pivotal movement of the casts
is effected by relative angular displacement between the joined
brackets about the respective pivot means or hinge line.
Translational movement in any plane and rotational movement about
any axis of the casts with respect to one another is accommodated
by the flexibility of brackets 16 and 18 (as shown in dashed lines
in FIG. 4).
With the above general understanding of the basic function and
structure of the invention, it may be beneficial to review and
analyze certain nuances of the invention which render it of great
practical benefit in the field of dental correction and
restoration.
Mounting means 22 and 24 (See FIGS. 1, 2a, 2b, 4 and 5) may be
generally triangular in one plane as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2b
to provide an apex 38 within which depression 28 is formed. Base 40
(See FIG. 2a) of mounting means 24 may include a ridge or tab 42
for mechanical engagement with a slot 44 formed in the rear surface
of the casts. The resulting mechanical engagement, in combination
with mastic or adhesive disposed therebetween rigidly secures each
mounting means to its respective cast.
During initial alignment and attachment of the brackets to the
mounting means, maintenance of the casts in a predetermined
relationship is critical. To simplify the manipulation during
attachment, retaining fingers 44 and 46 extend from apex 38. These
fingers are of resilient material and, in the quiescent state, cant
toward one another to provide snap retention for a sphere 32
inserted within depression 38. Similar fingers extend from the apex
of mounting means 22 to engage a sphere 30. With the use of such
fingers, articulator 16 is retained in place during positioning of
casts 12 and 14 and the need for manually retaining the articulator
in place during such orientation of the casts is obviated. Upon
achievement of the orientation of the casts, an adhesive, such as
any one of the commercially available fast setting cyanoacrylate or
anerobic adhesives, may be employed to secure each sphere within
its respective depression.
Articulator 16 is formed of a pair of mirror image brackets, each
of which includes a base 48 and a pair of arms 50, 52. The base
supports a sphere, which sphere may be located slightly off center
such that upon mating of the brackets, a line drawn through the
center of the spheres is orthogonal to a line representative of the
pivot axis of the articulator. Arms 50 and 52 may be formed to
include complementary elements to establish the pivot means. In
example, one arm may include a slot terminating in a circular
bearing surface while the other arm may include a pin extending
therefrom for retentative engagement with a corresponding slot and
bearing surface. The pin, molded or otherwise formed upon
fabrication of each of brackets 18 and 20, may be a simple shaft 54
extending therefrom and terminated by an end plate 56. The space
intermediate the arm and end plate is generally equivalent to the
width of the arm to be disposed therebetween into slotted retention
with the shaft. Alternatively, each arm may include an aperture
penetrably engageable by ancillary pin means or the like.
Preferably, the pivot means is of the snap fit type such that
disengagement and reengagement of the brackets (and the supported
casts) may be readily effected. Upon reengagement, the casts will
be in registration with one another as no adjustments or parameters
affecting registration are disturbed by disengagement/reengagement
of the pivot means.
A variant of mounting means 22, 24, is illustrated in FIG. 5.
Herein, mounting means 54 and 56 define right angled seats 58, 60,
which seats may be juxtaposed with the rear and bottom faces of
casts 12 and 14 to provide structural rigidity therebetween and a
substantial surface area for adhesively securing the mounting means
to the casts. To use the adhesive as a mechanical lock in addition
to its adhering qualities, slots 62, 64 may be formed in one or
both faces of seats 58, 60, respectively, to receive the mastic or
adhesive employed and thereby provide a more strong bond. Each of
mounting means 54 and 56 includes depressions as described above
which may or may not include fingers for mechanically retaining the
spheres to be mounted within the depressions.
In operation, the mounted casts may be relatively approached,
separated, traversed, protruded, retracted, inclined and rotated
through every possible condition and position of occlusal and
masticatory registration, as shown by the arrows in FIGS. 1, 2a and
4, by simple manipulation to flex the brackets of the articulator.
The resiliently yieldable brackets accommodate all deviation from
the initial position of the casts to the extent necessary to fully
manifest the operative variations of position inherent in the
natural dentures.
After fabrication of a restoration and fitting of same to the
appropriate cast, the casts may be manipulated to trace the normal
occlusal registration of the dentures as determined by the facet
inclinations of the natural teeth and the operative correlation of
the restoration with the condition to be redintegrated may be
checked for correction and precise fitting. The restoration may be
removed from the respective cast with or without physical severance
of the casts from one another. By severing the brackets from one
another at the pivot means, the casts readily become physically
separated from one another and work on the restoration may become
more facile. On completion of the work, the casts are rejoined to
one another by rejoining the brackets at the pivot means. The
severance capability, without an accompanying obligation or
requirement to realign or even check the alignment of the casts, is
of immense importance to the dental technician's efficiency. After
severance, each cast may be worked or physically independent of the
other and positioned upon or retained by a work surface which
surface can support the cast at an orientation most favorable for
the type and nature of the work to be done. And, a check of the
accuracy of the work can be made in a matter of seconds by simply
snapping the elements of the pivot means together to engage the two
brackets with one another and then simulate and trace the paths of
natural and masticatory registration.
While the principles of the invention have now been made clear in
an illustrative embodiment, there will be immediately obvious to
those skilled in the art many modifications of structure,
arrangement, proportions, elements, materials, and components, used
in the practice of the invention which are particularly adapted for
specific environments and operating requirements without departing
from those principles.
* * * * *